Independent School Standards: What Changed in April 2026

Every time guidance changes, leaders face the same question: what do we actually need to do differently? It's understandable that a revised document of this size can feel like one more thing to read in an already full term.

This guide summarises the Department for Education's (DfE) April 2026 update to the independent school standards guidance and the new standards that came into force alongside it. Inspectors take the guidance into account when judging whether schools meet the standards.

What changed in April 2026?

Two things happened at once. First, new standards 16A and 32A were inserted into the Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations 2014 from 1 April 2026. Second, the DfE revised its non-statutory guidance on the standards to reflect current policy.

The revised guidance updates six areas:

• fundamental British values
• relationships, sex and health education
• mobile phones in schools
• attendance
• restrictive interventions, including reasonable force and seclusion
• data protection complaints

Why the changes matter

Each update connects to something that affects pupils every day: how they are prepared for life in modern Britain, how they learn about relationships and health, how behaviour and attendance are managed and how the school responds when force or restraint is used. Reviewing your practice against the update is an opportunity to check these work well for your pupils, not just on paper.

Restrictive interventions: new standards 16A and 32A

This is the most significant change for many independent special schools and alternative provision settings. The new standards were introduced by the Schools (Recording and Reporting of Seclusion and Restraint) Regulations 2025.

In summary, schools now need to make prompt written records of incidents involving force, seclusion or restraint and, in most cases, notify parents after an incident. Ofsted has added the new standards to its non-association independent schools toolkit, under gathering evidence about attendance and behaviour.

Inspectors already ask to see records of any restrictive physical intervention. Make sure your records now meet the new requirements.

Fundamental British values

The guidance adds cross-references to existing guidance and more examples of how schools can actively promote fundamental British values through the curriculum, ethos and daily life. It is clear that a curriculum and wider provision must not conflict with or undermine these values.

Relationships, sex and health education

The guidance reflects standard 2A and the statutory guidance on relationships, sex and health education. Schools need a written policy statement, must consult parents when making or revising it and must publish it on a website.

Mobile phones in schools

The guidance expects behaviour policies to address pupils' use of mobile phones throughout the school day, with schools mobile-free by default.

Attendance

The attendance section has been updated to align with the DfE's current attendance guidance. Check that your attendance policy and practice reflect the latest expectations, including how you work with families and other agencies.

Data protection complaints

Following changes to data protection law from June 2026, the guidance adds a section on data protection complaints and connects it to the complaints standard. Many schools are adapting their existing complaints procedure rather than writing a separate one.

From Our Experience

We often see schools update a behaviour policy to mention restraint without changing how incidents are actually recorded or how parents are told. Inspectors look at the records. Schools that recover well from a finding in this area usually redesign the recording process with the staff who use it.

A common misconception

"The standards have not changed, only the guidance." For most areas, that is true. But standards 16A and 32A are new legal requirements from 1 April 2026, not just guidance.

Questions for leaders and proprietors

• Do our records of force, seclusion and restraint meet the new requirements?
• Do we notify parents after incidents as required?
• Does our behaviour policy address mobile phones through the school day?
• Is our RSHE policy statement current, consulted on and published?
• Can our complaints procedure handle data protection complaints?

Frequently asked questions

Is the April 2026 guidance statutory?

No. The guidance is non-statutory, but inspectors take it into account when assessing whether schools meet the standards.

Do the new standards apply to all independent schools?

Standards 16A and 32A form part of the independent school standards, which apply to all independent schools in England. They are most relevant where force, seclusion or restraint is used.

Do ISI inspected schools need to act on this?

Yes. The standards and the guidance apply to all independent schools, whichever inspectorate visits them.

Where can we read the full guidance?

The DfE publishes the guidance on its regulating independent schools page.

Our Perspective

Guidance updates are easy to treat as admin. The schools that benefit most use them as a prompt to ask whether practice still serves pupils well. That is especially true of restraint and seclusion, where getting it right matters for every child involved.

How Can Jarvis Education Help?

Our ISS compliance health check, part of our independent reviews and audits, covers every standard including 16A and 32A, every policy the standards reference and your website. You receive a short, practical report showing what is working well, what must be done now and what to consider next.